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The Big H Root Beer Extract

Voted Best Tasting Homemade Root Beer • 4 fl oz per bottle

From $14.99

Original Hires Big H recipe
Each bottle makes 3–4 gallons
Dry-ice or yeast method
Free shipping with Amazon Prime

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Six Ways to Use Your Extract

Start here. These are the classics that made our extract famous. Tap a card for step-by-step instructions.

Homemade Root Beer

Makes 3 Gallons

The original dry ice method. Sugar, water, extract, and about 45 minutes of patience. The recipe that started it all.

The Original

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Homemade Root Beer

Step by Step

Add 5 lbs sugar and entire bottle of Big H extract to 12 quarts of cold water in a large, open food-safe container.

Stir thoroughly until sugar is fully dissolved.

Add 3 lbs broken dry ice in a well-ventilated area. Do not seal the container — pressure can cause it to burst.

Stir frequently to prevent dry ice from clumping. Continue until all dry ice has dissolved (~45 min).

Serve chilled. For slushes, add slightly more dry ice. Enjoy!

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Root Beer Float

Makes 1 Serving

Two ingredients. One glass. The best things in life really are simple.

Classic

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Root Beer Float

Step by Step

Grab a tall glass. The taller the better.

Pour 2 cups of cold homemade Big H root beer into the glass.

Add 2 generous scoops of vanilla ice cream on top.

Watch it foam. Grab a straw and a spoon. You'll need both.

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Root Beer Freeze

Makes 1-2 Servings

Thicker than a float, colder than a shake, better than both. Three ingredients and a blender.

Fan Favorite

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Root Beer Freeze

Step by Step

Add 2-3 scoops of vanilla ice cream to your blender.

Pour in 1/2 cup of homemade Big H root beer.

Add 1 tsp of Big H root beer extract for extra punch.

Blend until smooth. Pour into a frosty glass. Done.

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Root Beer Ice Cream

Makes 1 Quart

The recipe that makes people say "wait, you MADE this?" Ice cream maker required.

Show Off

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Root Beer Ice Cream

Step by Step

Combine 4 cups heavy cream and 4 cups whole milk in a large bowl.

Add 2 cups sugar and stir until dissolved.

Stir in 2 Tbsp Big H root beer extract.

Pour into your ice cream maker and churn according to its instructions.

Transfer to a container and freeze until firm.

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Root Beer Cupcakes

Makes 12 Cupcakes

A float you can hold in your hand. Root beer in the batter, root beer in the frosting, cherry on top. Party-ready in under an hour.

Crowd Pleaser

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Root Beer Cupcakes

Step by Step

Use your favorite vanilla cupcake recipe (or box mix). Replace the vanilla extract with 1½ tsp Big H extract.

Fill cupcake liners ⅔ full. Bake at 350°F for 18–20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

For frosting: beat 1 cup softened butter, 3 cups powdered sugar, 2 Tbsp heavy cream, and 1 tsp Big H extract until fluffy.

Pipe or spread frosting on cooled cupcakes. Top with a maraschino cherry.

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Quick Hacks

Five Things You Didn't Know You Could Do

Your extract isn't just for root beer. These take less than 5 minutes.

🍴

Pancake Syrup

Stir 1/2 tsp extract into warm maple syrup. Pancakes that taste like a root beer float.

🍰

Whipped Cream

Add 1/4 tsp extract to sweetened whipped cream. Perfect on brownies, pie, or straight from the bowl.

🍪

Cookie Upgrade

Swap 1 tsp vanilla with 1/2 tsp extract in sugar cookies or snickerdoodles. Buttery nostalgia.

🥂

Instant Soda

Mix extract + simple syrup, keep in a squeeze bottle. Splash into sparkling water for root beer on demand.

🍹

Mocktail

1 oz root beer syrup, 1/2 oz fresh lime, top with soda over crushed ice. Garnish with mint. Grown-up sipper.

The Weird Corner

Strange & Wonderful Uses

People have been doing unexpected things with root beer extract for over a century. We're not saying all of these are good ideas. We're saying they're interesting ideas.

Root Beer BBQ Glaze

A sticky, caramel-spice lacquer for ribs or chicken. Sweet from the extract, tangy from the vinegar, with just enough heat.

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Root Beer BBQ Glaze

Makes about 1 cup

Combine 1 cup apple juice, ½ cup ketchup, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, and 2 tsp Big H extract in a saucepan.

Add a pinch of chili powder (or cayenne for more heat). Stir to combine.

Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to low. Simmer 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened to BBQ sauce consistency.

Brush onto ribs or chicken during the last 15–20 minutes of cooking. Glaze again just before serving.

Keeps refrigerated in a jar for up to 2 weeks.

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Holiday Ham Glaze

Sweet root beer meets sharp Dijon. Brush it on during the last 45 minutes. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter — this is your new signature.

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Holiday Ham Glaze

Enough for one ham

Whisk together 1 cup packed brown sugar, ¼ cup Dijon mustard, and 2 Tbsp Big H extract in a bowl until smooth.

Score the top of your ham in a diamond pattern (about ¼ inch deep) so the glaze soaks in.

Brush half the glaze onto the ham 45 minutes before it's done baking.

Apply the remaining glaze 15 minutes before pulling it out. It will caramelize into a glossy crust.

Rest 10 minutes before carving. The glaze will set as it cools.

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Root Beer Donuts

Fried dough infused with root beer, topped with a sticky glaze that sets sweet and shiny. Weekend project, weeklong bragging rights.

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Root Beer Donuts

Makes 8-10 donuts

Mix your favorite donut batter (boxed or scratch). Add 2 tsp Big H extract to the wet ingredients.

Heat oil to 350°F. Fry donuts 2 minutes per side until golden. Drain on a wire rack.

For the glaze: whisk 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 Tbsp root beer (or milk), and ¼ tsp extract until smooth.

Dip the warm donuts top-down into the glaze. Set on a rack to let it drip and set (about 5 min).

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Root Beer Brownies

Deep, fudgy brownies with a whisper of root beer. The chocolate gets richer, the edges get chewier, and nobody can quite place the extra flavor.

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Root Beer Brownies

Makes 9 large brownies

Use your favorite brownie recipe (scratch or mix). Add 1 tsp Big H extract to the wet ingredients.

If you want to push it: also reduce ¼ cup root beer to 2 Tbsp on the stove, cool, and fold into the batter.

Bake per your recipe. The extract deepens the chocolate — guests will ask what's different.

Cool fully before cutting. Top with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of homemade root beer for the full float effect.

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Get the Extract →

Root Beer Extract

The Big H Root Beer Extract

Get It on Amazon

The Big H Root Beer Extract

Six Ways to Use Your Extract

Homemade Root Beer

Homemade Root Beer

Root Beer Float

Root Beer Float

Root Beer Freeze

Root Beer Freeze

Root Beer Ice Cream

Root Beer Ice Cream

Root Beer Cupcakes

Root Beer Cupcakes

Five Things You Didn't Know You Could Do

Pancake Syrup

Whipped Cream

Cookie Upgrade

Instant Soda

Mocktail

Strange & Wonderful Uses

Root Beer BBQ Glaze

Root Beer BBQ Glaze

Holiday Ham Glaze

Holiday Ham Glaze

Root Beer Donuts

Root Beer Donuts

Root Beer Brownies

Root Beer Brownies

Hires Big H Gift Cards

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